U.S. patent application number 16/870854 was filed with the patent office on 2020-11-12 for waterway switching mechanism and method for switching the waterway switching mechanism.
The applicant listed for this patent is Xiamen Solex High-Tech Industries Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Bin CAO, Donghai CHEN, Wenxing CHEN, Fengde LIN.
Application Number | 20200353486 16/870854 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004827100 |
Filed Date | 2020-11-12 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200353486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIN; Fengde ; et
al. |
November 12, 2020 |
WATERWAY SWITCHING MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING THE WATERWAY
SWITCHING MECHANISM
Abstract
The present disclosure discloses a waterway switching mechanism
comprising a mounting portion, a water dividing plate, and a
driving mechanism. The mounting portion comprises at least one
water dividing passage, and the water dividing plate cooperates
with the at least one water dividing passage to switch a waterway
through rotation of the water dividing plate. A third upper guiding
surface of the movable block contacts and couples to a first inner
guiding surface of the water dividing plate to enable the movable
block to move to drive the water dividing plate to rotate in a
first direction. The movable block cooperates with a fixing guiding
surface of an upper matching portion of the mounting portion to
enable the push rod to move to drive the movable block and the
water dividing plate to rotate in the first direction.
Inventors: |
LIN; Fengde; (Xiamen,
CN) ; CHEN; Wenxing; (Xiamen, CN) ; CHEN;
Donghai; (Xiamen, CN) ; CAO; Bin; (Xiamen,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Xiamen Solex High-Tech Industries Co., Ltd. |
Xiamen |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004827100 |
Appl. No.: |
16/870854 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 1/1681 20130101;
E03C 1/0404 20130101; B05B 1/1654 20130101; B05B 1/3086 20130101;
B05B 1/18 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B05B 1/18 20060101
B05B001/18; B05B 1/30 20060101 B05B001/30; E03C 1/04 20060101
E03C001/04; B05B 1/16 20060101 B05B001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 8, 2019 |
CN |
201910379860.3 |
Nov 25, 2019 |
CN |
201911167484.8 |
Claims
1. A waterway switching mechanism, comprising: a mounting portion,
a water dividing plate, and a driving mechanism, wherein: the
mounting portion comprises at least one water dividing passage, the
water dividing plate is disposed in the mounting portion and
cooperates with the at least one water dividing passage to switch a
waterway through rotation of the water dividing plate, the mounting
portion further comprises an upper matching portion and a lower
matching portion, the upper matching portion comprises a fixing
guiding surface, the water dividing plate comprises a first through
passage, the first through passage comprises a first inner guiding
surface, the driving mechanism comprises a push rod, a movable
block, and an elastic body, the push rod is slidably connected to
the lower matching portion, the push rod comprises a first upper
guiding surface, the movable block comprises a lower guiding
surface and a third upper guiding surface, the elastic body is
connected to the driving mechanism and the mounting portion to
drive the driving mechanism to be reset, the first upper guiding
surface of the push rod contacts and couples to the lower guiding
surface of the movable block to enable the push rod to move to
drive the movable block to move, the third upper guiding surface of
the movable block contacts and couples to the first inner guiding
surface of the water dividing plate to enable the movable block to
move to drive the water dividing plate to rotate in a first
direction, and the movable block cooperates with the fixing guiding
surface of the upper matching portion to enable the push rod to
move to drive the movable block and the water dividing plate to
rotate in the first direction.
2. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:
the movable block further comprises a fourth upper guiding surface,
a guiding direction of the third upper guiding surface is opposite
to a guiding direction of the fourth upper guiding surface, and the
fourth upper guiding surface cooperates with the fixing guiding
surface.
3. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:
the push rod further comprises a second upper guiding surface, and
a guiding direction of the first upper guiding surface is opposite
to a guiding direction of the second upper guiding surface.
4. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 3, wherein:
the mounting portion further comprises a water dividing chamber,
the lower matching portion comprises a second through passage
connected to the water dividing chamber, and the push rod is
slidably connected to the second through passage.
5. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 4, wherein:
an inner wall of the second through passage comprises a guide
groove extending inward, an outer periphery of the push rod
comprises a guide protrusion extending outward, the guide
protrusion couples to the guide groove to enable the push rod to be
slidably connected to the second through passage, the inner wall of
the second through passage further comprises one or more first
inner convex portions extending outward, top portions of the one or
more first inner convex portions comprise a second inner guiding
surface, the outer periphery of the push rod further comprises a
first outer convex portion, the first outer convex portion is
disposed between two adjacent first inner convex portions of the
one or more first inner convex portions, and the first outer convex
portion comprises the first upper guiding surface and the second
upper guiding surface.
6. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 2, wherein:
the movable block further comprises a body and a second outer
convex portion extending outward from the body, an upper portion of
the second outer convex portion comprises a convex structure, a top
portion of the second outer convex portion comprises the third
upper guiding surface and the fourth upper guiding surface, and a
bottom surface of the second outer convex portion comprises the
lower guiding surface.
7. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 6, wherein:
the upper matching portion further comprises a limiting portion,
and the second outer convex portion abuts the limiting portion to
achieve positioning.
8. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 7, wherein:
the upper matching portion further comprises a plurality of
matching protrusions annularly arranged, each of the plurality of
matching protrusions comprises two side walls oppositely disposed,
a first side wall of the two side walls comprises the fixing
guiding surface, and a second side wall of the two side walls
comprises the limiting portion.
9. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:
the push rod further comprises a rotation limiting groove, the
movable block further comprises a rotation limiting protrusion, the
rotation limiting protrusion cooperates with the rotation limiting
groove to prevent the movable block from rotating in a second
direction, and the second direction is opposite to the first
direction.
10. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 9, wherein
the rotation limiting protrusion is disposed on the lower guiding
surface of the movable block.
11. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 1, further
comprising: a central shaft, wherein: an upper end of the central
shaft is fixedly connected to the upper matching portion, the push
rod is slidably connected to the central shaft, the movable block
is rotatably and slidably connected to the central shaft, and the
elastic body surrounds the central shaft and is disposed between
the upper matching portion and the movable block.
12. A waterway switching mechanism, comprising: a mounting portion,
a water dividing plate, and a driving mechanism, wherein: the
mounting portion comprises at least one water dividing passage, the
water dividing plate is only rotatably disposed in the mounting
portion and cooperates with the at least one water dividing passage
to drive the water dividing plate to rotate to switch a waterway,
the driving mechanism comprises a push rod, a movable block, and an
elastic body, the push rod is slidably connected to the mounting
portion, the push rod slidably pushes the movable block to move, a
movement of the movable block comprises a first process and a
second process, when the movable block is in the first process, the
movable block slides and pushes the water dividing plate to rotate
in a first direction, when the movable block is in the second
process, the movable block at least rotates in the first direction
and drives the water dividing plate to rotate in the first
direction to drive the water dividing plate to complete switching,
and the elastic body stores energy due to movement of the movable
block in the first process and the second process and is driven by
the stored energy to drive the driving mechanism to be reset.
13. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:
the at least one water dividing passage comprises a water inlet
passage, the water dividing plate is a driven plate, the driven
plate is disposed on the water inlet passage and is configured to
rotate relative to the mounting portion, and the driven plate
rotates to control the water inlet passage to be closed and to be
open.
14. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 13,
wherein: the driven plate further comprises a side wall, the first
through passage is disposed in the side wall, an end surface of the
side wall comprises a water groove passing through the side wall,
the driven plate is configured to rotate between a closed position
and an open position, when the driven plate is disposed in the open
position, the water groove defines a part of the water inlet
passage, and when the driven plate is disposed in the closed
position, a side wall of the water groove contacts the water inlet
passage to close the water inlet passage.
15. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 14,
wherein: a bottom wall of the water inlet passage comprises a
mounting groove, the lower matching portion is disposed in the
mounting groove, a bottom of the mounting groove comprises a
connection groove connected to an outer side of the mounting
portion, a tail end of the push rod is slidably and hermetically
sealed to the connection groove to enable the push rod to extend
out from the mounting portion, a top side of the water inlet
passage comprises a through groove passing through the water inlet
passage, the upper matching portion is disposed in the through
groove, and the driven plate is disposed between the mounting
groove and the through groove.
16. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 13, further
comprising: a second water dividing plate, a second button movably
connected to the mounting portion, and a ratchet wheel-ratchet
intermittent movement mechanism, wherein: the ratchet wheel-ratchet
intermittent movement mechanism is operatively connected between
the second button and the second water dividing plate, the mounting
portion further comprises a second plurality of water dividing
passages and a water dividing chamber connected to the water inlet
passage, the second water dividing plate is rotatably connected to
the mounting portion, and the second water dividing plate rotates
to control the second plurality of water dividing passages to be
switched to be connected to the water dividing chamber.
17. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 13, further
comprising: a second water dividing plate, a first button movably
connected to the mounting portion, a second button movably
connected to the mounting portion, and a ratchet wheel-ratchet
intermittent movement mechanism, wherein: the first button is
fixedly connected to a lower end of the push rod, the ratchet
wheel-ratchet intermittent movement mechanism is operatively
connected between the second button and the second water dividing
plate, the mounting portion further comprises a second plurality of
water dividing passages and a water dividing chamber connected to
the water inlet passage, the second water dividing plate is
rotatably connected to the mounting portion, the second water
dividing plate rotates to control the second plurality of water
dividing passages to be switched to be connected to the water
dividing chamber, and the first button and the second button are
arranged in a line.
18. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:
the at least one water dividing passage comprises a plurality of
water dividing passages, and the water dividing plate is disposed
in the mounting portion and cooperates with the plurality of water
dividing passages to switch the waterway through the rotation of
the water dividing plate.
19. The waterway switching mechanism according to claim 12,
wherein: the at least one water dividing passage comprises a
plurality of water dividing passages, and the water dividing plate
is only rotatably disposed in the mounting portion and cooperates
with the plurality of water dividing passages to drive the water
dividing plate to rotate to switch waterways.
20. A method for switching a waterway switching mechanism,
comprising: pushing a push rod to drive a movable block to move
relative to a mounting portion, the movable block sliding and
pushing a water dividing plate to rotate relative to the mounting
portion in a first direction; continuing to push the push rod to
drive the movable block to move relative to the mounting portion,
the movable block sliding and rotating in the first direction,
wherein a rotation of the movable block in the first direction
drives the water dividing plate to continue to rotate relative to
the mounting portion in the first direction to achieve a first
switching; and releasing the push rod, wherein an elastic body that
stored energy while pushing the push rod and continuing to push the
push rod drives the push rod and the movable block to be reset.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent
Application 201910379860.3, filed on May 8, 2019, and Chinese
Patent Application 201911167484.8, filed on Nov. 25, 2019. Chinese
Patent Application 201910379860.3 and Chinese Patent Application
201911167484.8 are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of sanitary
ware, and in particular to a waterway switching mechanism and a
switching method thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] There are many ways to switch waterways in sanitary ware.
The common two methods are the sliding switching method and the
rotating switching method. The sliding switching method refers to
controlling the water outflow of different waterways by relative
sliding. The rotating switching method refers to controlling the
water outflow of different waterways by relative rotation. The
structure of a waterway switching mechanism used for the rotating
switching method comprises a mounting portion, a water dividing
plate, and a driving mechanism. The mounting portion is provided
with a plurality of water dividing passages, and the water dividing
plate is installed in the mounting portion and cooperates with the
water dividing passages to switch the waterway by rotation of the
water dividing plate. The driving mechanism drives the water
dividing plate to rotate. There are two conventional types of
driving mechanisms.
[0004] In the first type, a knob is provided. The knob and the
water dividing plate are coaxially fixed, and rotation of the knob
drives the water dividing plate to achieve switching. The structure
is complicated, the occupied space is large, and the switching
resistance is large, resulting in inconvenient switching.
[0005] In the second type, a button is provided. In a shower
switching structure with a button, such as described in
CN202427568U, the shower switching structure comprises a button, a
water dividing plate, a ratchet shaft, a spring, and a plurality of
inclined guide columns. The button can be pushed in and out along
an axial direction of the button. The outer end of the button is
formed as a pressing end, and the inner end is provided with a
plurality of protrusions. The water dividing plate is coaxially
arranged with the button. The water dividing plate is limited with
respect to movement in an axial direction of the water dividing
plate, but it can freely rotate. A through hole for connecting a
main inflow passage and an inflow water dividing passage is
disposed in the water dividing plate. The ratchet shaft rotates
synchronously with the water dividing plate and can freely slide
along an axis thereof in the water dividing plate. The ratchet
shaft connects with a ratchet wheel on a side facing the
protrusions of the button. The ratchet wheel has a plurality of
inclined guiding surfaces that can abut the protrusions. The spring
abuts the ratchet shaft and generates a force for moving the
ratchet shaft toward the button. The inclined guide columns are
provided with guide grooves for guiding the button, and the
inclined guide columns respectively abut one of the inclined
guiding surfaces and rotate the ratchet shaft when the ratchet
shaft rebounds due to an elastic force of the spring. In the shower
switching structure, when the button is pushed, the water dividing
plate can be moved and rotated to realize the switching of the
water spray pattern. Since the water dividing plate has to be
raised, a water dividing body and a gasket must adopt a secondary
filling process, resulting in increases in production cost and in
rejection rate due to defects.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] The present disclosure provides a waterway switching
mechanism to solve deficiencies of the existing techniques.
[0007] In order to solve the aforementioned technical problems, a
first technical solution of the present disclosure is as
follows.
[0008] A waterway switching mechanism comprises a mounting portion,
a water dividing plate, and a driving mechanism. The mounting
portion comprises at least one water dividing passage. The water
dividing plate is disposed in the mounting portion and cooperates
with the at least one water dividing passage to switch a waterway
through rotation of the water dividing plate. The mounting portion
further comprises an upper matching portion and a lower matching
portion, and the upper matching portion comprises a fixing guiding
surface. The water dividing plate comprises a first through
passage, and the first through passage comprises a first inner
guiding surface. the driving mechanism comprises a push rod, a
movable block, and an elastic body, the push rod is slidably
connected to the lower matching portion, the push rod comprises a
first upper guiding surface, the movable block comprises a lower
guiding surface and a third upper guiding surface, and the elastic
body is connected to the driving mechanism and the mounting portion
to drive the driving mechanism to be reset. The first upper guiding
surface of the push rod contacts and couples to the lower guiding
surface of the movable block to enable the push rod to move to
drive the movable block to move, and the third upper guiding
surface of the movable block contacts and couples to the first
inner guiding surface of the water dividing plate to enable the
movable block to move to drive the water dividing plate to rotate
in a first direction. The movable block cooperates with the fixing
guiding surface of the upper matching portion to enable the push
rod to move to drive the movable block and the water dividing plate
to rotate in the first direction.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the movable block further
comprises a fourth upper guiding surface, a guiding direction of
the third upper guiding surface is opposite to a guiding direction
of the fourth upper guiding surface, and the fourth upper guiding
surface cooperates with the fixing guiding surface.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, an upper side of the third upper
guiding surface is connected to an upper side of the fourth upper
guiding surface.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the push rod further comprises a
second upper guiding surface, and a guiding direction of the first
upper guiding surface is opposite to a guiding direction of the
second upper guiding surface.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, an upper side of the first upper
guiding surface is connected to an upper side of the second upper
guiding surface.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the mounting portion further
comprises a water dividing chamber, the lower matching portion
comprises a second through passage connected to the water dividing
chamber, and the push rod is slidably connected to the second
through passage.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, an inner wall of the second
through passage comprises a guide groove extending inward, an outer
periphery of the push rod comprises a guide protrusion extending
outward, the guide protrusion couples to the guide groove to enable
the push rod to be slidably connected to the second through
passage. The inner wall of the second through passage further
comprises one or more first inner convex portions extending
outward, top portions of the one or more first inner convex
portions comprise a second inner guiding surface. The outer
periphery of the push rod further comprises a first outer convex
portion, the first outer convex portion is disposed between two
adjacent first inner convex portions of the one or more first inner
convex portions, and the first outer convex portion comprises the
first upper guiding surface and the second upper guiding
surface.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the movable block further
comprises a body and a second outer convex portion extending
outward from the body, an upper portion of the second outer convex
portion comprises a convex structure, a top portion of the second
outer convex portion comprises the third upper guiding surface and
the fourth upper guiding surface, and a bottom surface of the
second outer convex portion comprises the lower guiding
surface.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the upper matching portion
further comprises a limiting portion, and the second outer convex
portion abuts the limiting portion to achieve positioning.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the upper matching portion
further comprises a plurality of matching protrusions annularly
arranged, each of the plurality of matching protrusions comprises
two side walls oppositely disposed, a first side wall of the two
side walls comprises the fixing guiding surface, and a second side
wall of the two side walls comprises the limiting portion.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the push rod further comprises a
rotation limiting groove, the movable block further comprises a
rotation limiting protrusion, the rotation limiting protrusion
cooperates with the rotation limiting groove to prevent the movable
block from rotating in a second direction, and the second direction
is opposite to the first direction.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the rotation limiting protrusion
is disposed on the lower guiding surface of the movable block.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the waterway switching mechanism
further comprises a button. A first end of the button is swingably
connected to the lower matching portion, and the button abuts a
lower end of the push rod.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the waterway switching mechanism
further comprises a central shaft. An upper end of the central
shaft is fixedly connected to the upper matching portion, the push
rod is slidably connected to the central shaft, and the movable
block is rotatably and slidably connected to the central shaft. The
elastic body surrounds the central shaft and is disposed between
the upper matching portion and the movable block.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the fixing guiding surface, the
first inner guiding surface, the lower guiding surface, and the
third upper guiding surface are spiral surfaces or inclined
surfaces.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the waterway switching mechanism
further comprises a first button configured to move relative to the
mounting portion, the first button is operatively connected to a
lower end of the push rod.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one water dividing
passage comprises a water inlet passage, the water dividing plate
is a driven plate, the driven plate is disposed on the water inlet
passage and is configured to rotate relative to the mounting
portion, and the driven plate rotates to control the water inlet
passage to be closed and to be open.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the driven plate further
comprises a side wall, the first through passage is disposed in the
side wall, and an end surface of the side wall comprises a water
groove passing through the side wall. The driven plate is
configured to rotate between a closed position and an open
position. When the driven plate is disposed in the open position,
the water groove defines a part of the water inlet passage. When
the driven plate is disposed in the closed position, a side wall of
the water groove contacts the water inlet passage to close the
water inlet passage.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, a bottom wall of the water inlet
passage comprises a mounting groove, the lower matching portion is
disposed in the mounting groove, a bottom of the mounting groove
comprises a connection groove connected to an outer side of the
mounting portion, and a tail end of the push rod is slidably and
hermetically sealed to the connection groove to enable the push rod
to extend out from the mounting portion. A top side of the water
inlet passage comprises a through groove passing through the water
inlet passage, the upper matching portion is disposed in the
through groove, and the driven plate is disposed between the
mounting groove and the through groove.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the waterway switching mechanism
further comprises a second water dividing plate, a second button
movably connected to the mounting portion and a ratchet
wheel-ratchet intermittent movement mechanism, the ratchet
wheel-ratchet intermittent movement mechanism is operatively
connected between the second button and the second water dividing
plate, the mounting portion further comprises a second plurality of
water dividing passages and a water dividing chamber connected to
the water inlet passage, the second water dividing plate is
rotatably connected to the mounting portion, and the second water
dividing plate rotates to control the second plurality of water
dividing passages to be switched to be connected to the water
dividing chamber.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the waterway switching mechanism
further comprises a second water dividing plate, a first button
movably connected to the mounting portion, a second button movably
connected to the mounting portion, and a ratchet wheel-ratchet
intermittent movement mechanism. The first button is fixedly
connected to a lower end of the push rod, the ratchet wheel-ratchet
intermittent movement mechanism is operatively connected between
the second button and the second water dividing plate, the mounting
portion further comprises a second plurality of water dividing
passages and a water dividing chamber connected to the water inlet
passage, the second water dividing plate is rotatably connected to
the mounting portion, the second water dividing plate rotates to
control the second plurality of water dividing passages to be
switched to be connected to the water dividing chamber, and the
first button and the second button are arranged in a line.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one water dividing
passage comprises a plurality of water dividing passages, and the
water dividing plate is disposed in the mounting portion and
cooperates with the plurality of water dividing passages to switch
the plurality of water dividing passages through the rotation of
the water dividing plate.
[0030] A second technical solution of the present disclosure is as
follows.
[0031] A waterway switching mechanism, comprises a mounting
portion, a water dividing plate, and a driving mechanism. The
mounting portion comprises at least one water dividing passage, and
the water dividing plate is only rotatably disposed in the mounting
portion and cooperates with the at least one water dividing passage
to drive the water dividing plate to rotate to switch waterways.
The driving mechanism comprises a push rod, a movable block, and an
elastic body. The push rod is slidably connected to the mounting
portion, the push rod slidably pushes the movable block to move. A
movement of the movable block comprises a first process and a
second process. When the movable block is in the first process, the
movable block slides and pushes the water dividing plate to rotate
in a first direction. When the movable block is in the second
process, the movable block at least rotates in the first direction
and drives the water dividing plate to rotate in the first
direction to drive the water dividing plate to complete switching.
The elastic body stores energy due to movement of the movable block
in the first process and the second process and is driven by the
stored energy to drive the driving mechanism to be reset.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one water dividing
passage comprises a plurality of water dividing passages, and the
water dividing plate is only rotatably disposed in the mounting
portion and cooperates with the plurality of water dividing
passages to drive the water dividing plate to rotate to switch
waterways.
[0033] A third technical solution of the present disclosure is as
follows.
[0034] A method for switching a waterway switching mechanism, the
method comprises following steps: pushing a push rod to drive a
movable block to move relative to a mounting portion, the movable
block sliding and pushing a water dividing plate to rotate relative
to the mounting portion in a first direction; continuing to push
the push rod to drive the movable block to move relative to the
mounting portion, the movable block sliding and rotating in the
first direction, wherein a rotation of the movable block in the
first direction drives the water dividing plate to continue to
rotate relative to the mounting portion in the first direction to
achieve a first switching; and releasing the push rod, wherein an
elastic body that stored energy while pushing the push rod and
continuing to push the push rod drives the push rod and the movable
block to be reset.
[0035] Compared with existing techniques, the technical solution
provided by the present disclosure has the following
advantages.
[0036] The water dividing plate only realizes the rotation function
(no movement function), which can reduce the cost, reduce the
occupied space, and result in a compact structure. The first upper
guiding surface of the push rod and the lower guiding surface of
the movable block can be in contact engagement with each other to
move the movable block by the movement of the push rod. The third
upper guiding surface of the movable block and the first inner
guiding surface of the water dividing plate can be in contact with
each other to drive the water dividing plate to rotate in the first
direction by the movement of the movable block. The movable block
and the fixing guiding surface of the upper matching portion
cooperate to enable the movable block and the water dividing plate
to rotate together in the first direction by the movement of the
push rod. The pressing force is small, and therefore the product is
easy to press and easy to switch.
[0037] The mounting portion is provided with a water dividing
chamber, and the lower matching portion is provided with a second
through passage connected to the water dividing chamber. The push
rod is slidably connected to the second through passage. The
structure is simple, and the mounting is convenient.
[0038] The guide protrusion is adapted to the guide groove so that
the push rod can be slidably connected to the second through
passage, and the structure is simple and compact.
[0039] The first outer guiding surface and the second upper guiding
surface are disposed on the first outer convex portion for
convenient cooperation.
[0040] The present disclosure further comprises a button. One end
of the button is swingably connected to the lower matching portion,
and the button also abuts the lower end of the push rod for
convenient operation.
[0041] The present disclosure further comprises a central shaft.
The upper end of the central shaft is fixedly coupled with the
upper matching portion, and the push rod is slidably coupled to the
central shaft. The movable block is rotatably and slidably coupled
to the central shaft. The elastic body is sleeved on the central
shaft and is disposed between the upper matching portion and the
movable block. The structure is easy to assemble and the switching
stability is improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0042] The present disclosure will be further described below with
the combination of the accompanying drawings and the
embodiments.
[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a
waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 1.
[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a first cross-sectional view of the
waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 1.
[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates a second cross-sectional view of the
waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 1.
[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates a third cross-sectional view of the
waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 1.
[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth cross-sectional view of the
waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 1.
[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a fixing base of
Embodiment 1.
[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a water dividing
body of Embodiment 1.
[0050] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a push rod of
Embodiment 1.
[0051] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a water dividing
plate of Embodiment 1.
[0052] FIG. 10 illustrates a first perspective view of a movable
block of Embodiment 1.
[0053] FIG. 11 illustrates a second perspective view of the movable
block of Embodiment 1.
[0054] FIG. 12 illustrates a first schematic view of a cooperation
of the water dividing body and the water dividing plate of
Embodiment 1.
[0055] FIG. 13 illustrates a second schematic view of the
cooperation of the water dividing body and the water dividing plate
of Embodiment 1.
[0056] FIG. 14 illustrates a third schematic view of the
cooperation of the water dividing body and the water dividing plate
of Embodiment 1.
[0057] FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective view of a shower
comprising the waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 1.
[0058] FIG. 16 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a
waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 2.
[0059] FIG. 17 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the waterway
switching mechanism of Embodiment 2.
[0060] FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of a push rod of
Embodiment 2.
[0061] FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of a movable block of
Embodiment 2.
[0062] FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of a shower of
Embodiment 3.
[0063] FIG. 21 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the shower of
Embodiment 3.
[0064] FIG. 22 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the
waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 3.
[0065] FIG. 23 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the waterway
switching mechanism of Embodiment 3 when water flows out from the
waterway switching mechanism.
[0066] FIG. 24 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the waterway
switching mechanism of Embodiment 3 when water does not flow out
from the waterway switching mechanism.
[0067] FIG. 25 illustrates a perspective view of a push rod of the
waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 3.
[0068] FIG. 26 illustrates a perspective view of a valve body of
the waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 3.
[0069] FIG. 27 illustrates a perspective view of a driven disk of
the waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 3.
[0070] FIG. 28 illustrates a first perspective view of a movable
block of the waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 3.
[0071] FIG. 29 illustrates a second perspective view of the movable
block of the waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 3.
[0072] FIG. 30 illustrates a perspective view of a fixing base of
the waterway switching mechanism of Embodiment 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1
[0073] Referring to FIGS. 1-11, a waterway switching mechanism
comprises a mounting portion 10, a water dividing plate 20, and a
driving mechanism 30. The driving mechanism 30 comprises a push rod
31, a movable block 32, an elastic body 33, a central shaft 34, and
a button 35.
[0074] The mounting portion 10 comprises a water dividing chamber
11, a water inlet passage 12 configured to supply water to the
water dividing chamber 11, and a plurality of water dividing
passages 13. The water inlet passage 12 is connected to the water
dividing chamber 11. In the example embodiment, the plurality of
water dividing passages 13 comprises two water dividing passages
13, but the number of water dividing passages is not limited
thereto. The plurality of water dividing passages 13 can comprise
three, four, or more than four water dividing passages 13 when
needed. The water dividing plate 20 is rotatably disposed in the
water dividing chamber 11 of the mounting portion 10 and cooperates
with the two water dividing passages 13, and the water dividing
plate 20 is rotated to switch waterways. In a specific embodiment,
the water dividing chamber 11 comprises a bottom surface, each of
the two water dividing passages 13 comprises a water dividing hole
131 disposed on the bottom surface, and the water dividing plate 20
is rotatably and hermetically sealed to the bottom surface. The
water dividing plate 20 comprises a water hole 24, and rotation of
the water dividing plate 20 is configured to control the water hole
24 to selectively communicate with at least one of the water
dividing holes 131. This means that the at least one of the water
dividing holes 131 in communication with the water hole 24 is
connected to the water dividing chamber 11 (e.g., water flows out
from a corresponding one of the two water dividing passages 13
corresponding to the at least one of the water dividing holes 131
in communication with the water hole 24). The aforementioned method
is configured to control one water dividing passage 13 of the
plurality of water dividing passages 13 to be connected to the
water dividing chamber 11 or to control multiple water dividing
passages 13 of the plurality of water dividing passages 13 to be
simultaneously connected to the water dividing chamber 11, as shown
in FIGS. 12-14. Referring to FIG. 12, the water hole 24 is
connected to a first water dividing hole 131 of a first water
dividing passage 13 of the two water dividing passages 13, and
water flows out from the first water dividing passage 13
corresponding to the first water dividing hole 131. Referring to
FIG. 13, the water hole 24 is simultaneously connected to the first
water dividing hole 131 and a second water dividing hole 131 of a
second water dividing passage 13 of the two water dividing passages
13, and the water simultaneously flows out from the first water
dividing passage 13 and the second water dividing passage 13.
Referring to FIG. 14, the water hole 24 is connected to the second
water dividing hole 131, and the water flows out from the second
water dividing passage 13 corresponding to the second water
dividing hole 131. In a specific embodiment, the driving mechanism
30 drives the water dividing plate 20 to only rotate in a first
direction with respect to the mounting portion 10 and to achieve
switching by continuous rotation of the water dividing plate 20. As
an example, rotation in the first direction is a counterclockwise
rotation. The mounting portion 10 comprises a fixing base 14 and a
water dividing body 15. The fixing base 14 and the water dividing
body 15 are hermetically sealed together, and the water dividing
chamber 11 is defined between the fixing base 14 and the water
dividing body 15. The water dividing body 15 comprises the
plurality of water dividing passages 13, and the fixing base 14
comprises the water inlet passage 12. The fixing base 14 comprises
an upper matching portion 14', and the water dividing body 15
comprises a lower matching portion 15'.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 6, the upper matching portion 14'
comprises a plurality of matching protrusions 141, and the
plurality of matching protrusions 141 are fixedly and annularly
arranged on a bottom surface of the fixing base 14 (e.g., a top
wall of the water dividing chamber 11). Each of the plurality of
matching protrusions 141 comprises two side walls oppositely
disposed. A first side wall of the two side walls defines a fixing
guiding surface 142, and the fixing guiding surface 142 comprises a
spiral surface or an inclined surface. A second side wall of the
two side walls comprises a limiting portion 143, and for example,
the limiting portion 143 comprises a vertical wall.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 7, the lower matching portion 15'
comprises a second through passage 151 connected to the water
dividing chamber 11. The second through passage 151 passes through
the water dividing body 15 in a vertical direction. An inner wall
of the second through passage 151 comprises two guide grooves 152
extending inward and a plurality of first inner convex portions 153
extending outward from the inner wall of the second through passage
151. The two guide grooves 152 are radially symmetrically disposed,
and the plurality of first inner convex portions 153 are annularly
disposed at intervals. Top surfaces of the plurality of first inner
convex portions 153 define second inner guiding surfaces 154, and
the second inner guiding surfaces 154 comprise spiral surfaces or
inclined surfaces.
[0077] Referring to FIGS. 1-5 and 8, the push rod 31 is slidably
connected to the second through passage 151 of the water dividing
body 15. The push rod 31 comprises a first upper guiding surface
311 facing upward and a second upper guiding surface 312 facing
upward. As an example, the first upper guiding surface 311 and the
second upper guiding surface 312 are both spiral surfaces or
inclined surfaces, and a guiding direction of the first upper
guiding surface 311 and a guiding direction of the second upper
guiding surface 312 are opposite. The guiding direction of the
first upper guiding surface 311 and the guiding direction of the
second upper guiding surface 312 can refer to a spiral direction of
the spiral surfaces. An upper side of the first upper guiding
surface 311 and an upper side of the second upper guiding surface
312 are connected together. In this embodiment, an outer periphery
of the push rod 31 comprises two guide protrusions 313 extending
outward. The two guide protrusions 313 are radially symmetrically
disposed, and the two guide protrusions 313 couple to the two guide
grooves 152 of the second through passages 151 of the water
dividing body 15 to enable the push rod 31 to be slidably connected
to the second through passage 151. The outer periphery of the push
rod 31 further comprises a first outer convex portion 314 extending
outward. The first outer convex portion 314 is disposed between two
adjacent first inner convex portions 153 of the plurality of first
inner convex portions 153. The first upper guiding surface 311 and
the second upper guiding surface 312 are disposed on the first
outer convex portion 314. In some embodiments, the outer periphery
of the push rod 31 comprises four first outer convex portions 314
annually disposed at intervals, and the two guide protrusions 313
respectively extend outward from outer walls of two first outer
convex portions 314 of the four first outer convex portions
314.
[0078] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the movable block 32 comprises
a lower guiding surface 321 facing downward, a third upper guiding
surface 322 facing upward, and a fourth upper guiding surface 323
facing upward. The lower guiding surface 321, the third upper
guiding surface 322, and the fourth upper guiding surface 323 are
all spiral surfaces or inclined surfaces. A guiding direction of
the third upper guiding surface 322 is opposite to a guiding
direction of the fourth upper guiding surface 323, and an upper
side of the third upper guiding surface 322 is connected to an
upper side of the fourth upper guiding surface 323. In this
embodiment, the movable block 32 comprises a body 324 and a
plurality of second outer convex portions 325 extending outward
from an outer periphery of the body 324. The plurality of second
outer convex portions 325 are annularly arranged, and an upper
portion of each of at least one of the plurality of second outer
convex portions 325 comprises a convex structure to define each of
the at least one of the plurality of second outer convex portions
325 to be an inverted L-shaped structure. A top surface of each of
the at least one of the plurality of second outer convex portions
325 comprises the third upper guiding surface 322 and the fourth
upper guiding surface 323, and a bottom surface of each of the at
least one of the plurality of second outer convex portions 325
comprises the lower guiding surface 321. In a specific embodiment,
the upper portion of each of at least one of the plurality of the
second outer convex portions 325 protrudes outward and is disposed
above the top surface of the body 324.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 9, the water dividing plate 20 comprises a
first through passage 21. The first through passage 21 comprises a
first inner guiding surface 22, and the first inner guiding surface
22 is a spiral surface or an inclined surface. In this embodiment,
an inner wall of the first through passage 21 comprises a second
inner convex portion 23 extending outward, and a bottom surface of
the second inner convex portion 23 comprises the first inner
guiding surface 22.
[0080] Referring to FIGS. 1-11, the push rod 31 comprises a
rotation limiting groove 315. The movable block 32 comprises a
rotation limiting protrusion 326. The rotation limiting protrusion
326 cooperates with the rotation limiting groove 315 to restrict
the movable block 32 to rotate in a second direction. The second
direction is opposite to the first direction, for example, the
second direction is clockwise. In this embodiment, the rotation
limiting protrusion 326 is disposed on the lower guiding surface
321 of the movable block 32. The first outer convex portion 314
comprises a protruding portion extending above the push rod 31, the
protruding portion defines an angle facing inward, and the angle
defines the rotation limiting groove 315.
[0081] Referring to FIGS. 1-11, a first end of the button 35 is
swingably connected to the water dividing body 15, and a second end
of the button 35 abuts a lower end of the push rod 31. An upper end
of a central shaft 34 is fixedly connected to the fixing base 14,
and the central shaft 34 defines an axial center of the plurality
of matching protrusions 141 annularly arranged. The push rod 31 is
slidably connected to the central shaft 34. The movable block 32 is
rotatably and slidably connected to the central shaft 34. As an
example, the elastic body 33 is a spring, and the elastic body 33
surrounds the central shaft 34 and is disposed between the fixing
base 14 and the movable block 32 to drive the driving mechanism 30
to be reset.
[0082] The waterway switching mechanism is switched by pressing the
button 35 and is reset by releasing the button 35 so as to complete
a switching cycle. In some embodiments, the switching cycle of the
waterway switching mechanism comprises a switching process
configured to drive the water dividing plate 20 to rotate by
pressing the button 35 (the water dividing plate 20 rotates at a
predetermined angle to complete a switching of water spray
patterns) and a reset process configured to be reset by a force of
the elastic body 33 after releasing the button 35 (the driving
mechanism 30 is reset). The switching process comprises a first
process and a second process.
[0083] In the first process: the water dividing plate 20 only
rotates in the first direction, and the push rod 31 and the movable
block 32 move without rotating. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the
button 35 of the driving mechanism 30 is in an initial state (ready
to be pressed) in FIG. 2, and the fourth upper guiding surface 323
of the movable block 32 of the driving mechanism 30 contacts the
fixing guiding surface 142 of the fixing base 14 in FIG. 3. When
the button 35 is pressed, the push rod 31 moves upward. Since the
lower guiding surface 321 of the movable block 32 contacts and
abuts the first upper guiding surface 311 of the push rod 31, the
movable block 32 also moves upward. The third upper guiding surface
322 of the movable block 32 contacts and abuts the first inner
guiding surface 22 of the water dividing plate 20. Since the water
dividing plate 20 only rotates and the movable block 32 moves
upward, the third upper guiding surface 322 of the movable block 32
drives the water dividing plate 20 to rotate in the first direction
(counterclockwise) until the lower guiding surface 321 of the
movable block 32 moves away from the second inner guiding surfaces
154 of the water dividing body 15. At this time, as shown in FIG.
3, the fourth upper guiding surface 323 of the movable block 32
abuts the fixing guiding surface 142 of the fixing base 14. In this
first process, the push rod 31 is free to move but not rotate, the
movable block 32 is also free to move but not rotate, and the water
dividing plate 20 is free to rotation. The rotation limiting
protrusion 326 and the rotation limiting groove 315 cooperate to
prevent the movable block 32 from rotating in a second direction
(clockwise), so a rotation of the movable block 32 in the clockwise
direction (the water dividing plate 20 does not move) due to an
excessive friction between the water dividing plate 20 and a
sealing pad 25 (the sealing pad 25 is disposed on the bottom
surface of the water dividing chamber 11) is prevented.
[0084] In the second process, the water dividing plate 20 and the
movable block 32 rotate together in the first direction. The water
dividing plate 20 rotates at the predetermined angle by cooperation
of the first process and the second process to complete the
switching of the water spray patterns. The movable block 32 is free
to move and to rotate in the second process. Referring to FIGS. 3
and 4, the water dividing plate 20 rotates at the predetermined
angle in FIG. 4. By continuously pushing the push rod 31, and the
fourth upper guiding surface 323 of the movable block 32 contacts
and couples to the fixing guiding surface 142 of the fixing base
14. Since the fixing guiding surface 142 does not move, the movable
block 32 can rotate (at this time, the lower guiding surface 321 of
the movable block 32 separates from the second inner guiding
surfaces 154 of the water dividing body 15). At this time, an
upward movement of the push rod 31 drives the movable block 32 to
rotate in the first direction, and the movable block 32 and the
water dividing plate 20 rotate together in the first direction.
When the water dividing plate 20 rotates at the predetermined
angle, the lower guiding surface 321 of the movable block 32
separates from the second inner guiding surfaces 154 of the water
dividing body 15. In order to ensure accuracy of a rotation
position of the water dividing plate 20, when the plurality of
second outer convex portions 325 of the movable block 32 (a side
surface of the plurality of second outer convex portions 325) abut
the limiting portions 143 of the fixing base 14, a rotation of the
water dividing plate 20 is complete. At this time, the switching of
waterways is complete, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0085] In a reset process, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, FIG. 5
illustrates a schematic view of the water switching mechanism after
the button 35 is released. After releasing a hand from the button
35, causing the button 35 to be released, the lower guiding surface
321 of the movable block 32 separates from the second inner guiding
surfaces 154 of the water dividing body 15. At this time, the lower
guiding surface 321 of the movable block 32 cooperates with the
second inner guiding surfaces 154 of the water dividing body 15,
and the movable block 32 moves downward under the force of the
elastic body 33. The lower guiding surface 321 of the movable block
32 moves downward to pass through the second upper guiding surface
312 of the push rod 31 to a next switching position and to drive
the push rod 31 and the button 35 to be reset simultaneously. Thus
the switching cycle is complete. A rotation angle and a rotation
direction of the movable block 32 are consistent with a rotation
angle and a rotation direction of the water dividing plate 20 to
ensure each of switching positions is fixed.
[0086] If needed, a sealing ring 155 and a retaining ring 156 are
disposed between the lower end of the push rod 31 and the water
dividing body 15. The sealing ring 155 and the retaining ring 156
surround the push rod 31 and are disposed in the second through
passage 151 of the water dividing body 15. A positioning mechanism
is disposed between the water dividing plate 20 and the fixing base
14. The positioning mechanism comprises a positioning pin 41
movably connected to the water dividing plate 20, an abutting
spring 42 abutting the positioning pin 41, and a positioning groove
145 disposed in the fixing base 14. The positioning pin 41 is
inserted into the positioning groove by the abutting spring to
enable the waterway switching mechanism to be maintained in a
switching state to improve a switching feel of the waterway
switching mechanism.
[0087] In this embodiment, the water dividing plate 20 only rotates
(the water dividing plate 20 does not move), and the mounting
portion 10 and the water dividing plate 20 can be made from general
materials. A filling process is not required, a cost can be
reduced, an occupied space can be reduced, and the structure is
compact.
[0088] FIG. 15 illustrates a shower in which the waterway switching
mechanism of this embodiment is applied. The shower is a handheld
shower, and the handheld shower comprises a handheld portion A1 and
a shower portion A2. The waterway switching mechanism is disposed
in the shower. The button 35 is exposed on an outer side of the
shower for the user to press. For example, the button 35 is
disposed on a joint of the handheld portion A1 and the shower
portion A2.
Embodiment 2
[0089] Referring to FIGS. 16-19, this embodiment differs from
Embodiment 1 in that the structure configured to restrict the
rotation of the movable block 32 in the second direction is
different from that of Embodiment 1. In this embodiment, the first
outer convex portion 314 comprises an extending portion extending
above the push rod 31, and the protruding portion of the first
outer convex portion 314 defines the angle facing inward. A
rotation limiting member 316 is fixedly disposed at an intersection
of the first upper guiding surface 311 and the second upper guiding
surface 312. A periphery of a bottom of the body 324 of the movable
block 32 comprises an arc-shaped opening 327 extending inward. The
number of arc-shaped openings 327 is the same as the number of
first outer convex portions 314 (the number of rotation limiting
members 316 is the same as the number of arc-shaped openings 327),
and the rotation limiting member 316 is connected to the arc-shape
opening 327 to prevent the movable block 32 from rotating in the
second direction by the aforementioned connection.
Embodiment 3
[0090] Referring to FIGS. 20-30, this embodiment differs from
Embodiment 1 in that, in Embodiment 3, the water inlet passage 12
is considered to be a first water dividing passage and a plurality
of other water dividing passages 13 are controlled to be switched
to be connected with the water inlet passage 12. That is, the
plurality of water dividing passages 13 are controlled to be open
and to be closed. In this embodiment, a water passage is controlled
to be closed or to be open. In some embodiments, with reference to
FIGS. 20-30, a handheld shower comprises a waterway switching
mechanism. The waterway switching mechanism comprises a driving
mechanism 30, a mounting portion 10, a driven plate 20', a water
dividing plate 20, and a ratchet wheel-ratchet intermittent
movement mechanism 50. In this embodiment, for example, the driven
plate 20' is driven to rotate to control the water passage to be
closed and to be open. The driving mechanism 30 of Embodiment 1 is
substantially the same as the driving mechanism 30 of this
embodiment. In Embodiment 1, the water dividing plate 20 comprises
the water hole 24, while the driven plate 20' comprises water
groove 24' in this embodiment. A button of the driving mechanism 30
is a first button 35'.
[0091] The mounting portion 10 comprises the handheld portion A1
and a head 16. The mounting portion 10 comprises the water inlet
passage 12. A first portion of the water inlet passage 12 is
disposed on the handheld portion A1, and a second portion of the
water inlet passage 12 is disposed on the head 16. A bottom wall of
the water inlet passage 12 comprises a mounting groove 121, and a
bottom of the mounting groove 121 comprises a connection groove
connected to an outer side of the handheld portion A1. A top side
of the water inlet passage 12 comprises a through groove 123
passing through the water inlet passage 12.
[0092] The driven plate 20' is disposed above the water inlet
passage 12 of the handheld portion A1 and is configured to rotate
relative to the handheld portion A1. The handheld portion A1
comprises an upper matching portion 14' and a lower matching
portion 15'. The upper matching portion 14' is the fixing base 14,
and the lower matching portion 15' is a valve body 19.
[0093] The fixing base 14 comprises a fixing board 144 and the
plurality of matching protrusions 141. The plurality of matching
protrusions 141 are fixedly and annularly arrayed on the bottom
surface of the fixing base 14, and each of the plurality of
matching protrusions 141 comprises the fixing guiding surface 142
and the limiting portion 143, as illustrated in Embodiment 1. The
fixing board 144 of the fixing base 14 is fixedly and hermetically
sealed on the through groove 123 of the handheld portion A1.
[0094] The valve body 19 comprises the second through passage 151.
The second through passage 151 passing through the valve body in a
vertical direction. The second through passage 151 comprises the
guide grooves 152, the plurality of first inner convex portions
153, and the second inner guiding surfaces 154. The valve body 19
is disposed in the mounting groove 121.
[0095] A tail end (e.g., a lower end) of the push rod 31 upwardly
passes through the second through passage 151 of the valve body 19
and the connection groove 122 of the handheld portion A1 to enable
the push rod 31 to be slidably and hermetically sealed to the
connection groove 122. As illustrated in Embodiment 2, the push rod
31 comprises the first upper guiding surface 311 facing upward and
the second upper guiding surface 312 facing upward. The outer
periphery of the push rod 31 comprises the two guide protrusions
313 extending outward, and the two guide protrusions 313 couple to
the guide grooves 152 of the second through passage 151 of the
valve body 19 to enable the push rod 31 to be slidably connected to
the second through passage 151. The outer periphery of the push rod
31 further comprises a first outer convex portion 314 extending
outward. The first outer convex portion 314 comprises a protruding
portion extending above the push rod 31. The protruding portion
defines an angle facing inward, and a rotation limiting member 316
is fixedly disposed at an intersection of the first upper guiding
surface 311 and the second upper guiding surface 312.
[0096] The movable block 32 comprises the lower guiding surface 321
facing downward, the third upper guiding surface 322 facing upward,
and the fourth upper guiding surface 323 facing upward. The movable
block 32 also comprises the body 324 and the plurality of second
outer convex portions 325 extending outward from an outer periphery
of the body 324. The plurality of second outer convex portions 325
are annularly arranged, and the upper portion of each of the at
least one of the plurality of second outer convex portions 325
comprises the convex structure to define each of the at least one
of the plurality of second outer convex portions 325 to be the
inverted L-shaped structure. The top surface of each of the at
least one of the plurality of second outer convex portions 325
comprises the third upper guiding surface 322 and the fourth upper
guiding surface 323, and the bottom surface of each of the at least
one of the plurality of second outer convex portions 325 comprises
the lower guiding surface 321. The periphery of the bottom of the
body 324 of the movable block 32 comprises the arc-shaped opening
327 extending inward. The number of arc-shaped openings 327 is the
same as the number of first outer convex portions 314 (the number
of rotation limiting members 316 is the same as the number of
arc-shaped openings 327). As illustrated in Embodiment 2, the
rotation limiting member 316 is connected to the arc-shape opening
327 to prevent the movable block 32 from rotating in the second
direction by the aforementioned connection.
[0097] The driven plate 20' comprises the first through passage 21,
and first through passage 21 comprises the first inner guiding
surface 22. The driven plate 20' is disposed between the mounting
groove 121 and the through groove 123 of the water inlet passage
12, and an assembly is convenient. The driven plate 20' comprises a
side wall, and the first through passage 21 is disposed in the side
wall. An end surface of the side wall comprises the water groove
24' passing through the side wall, and the first inner guiding
surface 22 is disposed in the peripheral wall. The inner wall of
the first through passage 21 comprises a second inner convex
portion 23 extending outward, and a bottom surface of the second
inner convex portion 23 comprises the first inner guiding surface
22. When the waterway switching mechanism is open, the water groove
24' of the driven plate 20' defines a part of the water inlet
passage 12. When the waterway switching mechanism is closed, a side
wall of the water groove 24' contacts the water inlet passage 12 to
close the water inlet passage 12. The structure is simple, the side
wall is configured to control the waterway switching mechanism to
be closed and to be open, a hermetical seal is good, a pressing
force is small, and the waterway switching mechanism is convenient
to control. In some embodiments, the water inlet passage 12
comprises a front portion and a rear portion, and the driven plate
20' is disposed between the front portion and the rear portion.
When the waterway switching mechanism is open, the front portion is
connected to the rear portion. When the waterway switching
mechanism is closed, the front portion is not connected to the rear
portion.
[0098] A first end of the first button 35' is slidably connected
the handheld portion A1, and an inner wall of the first button 35'
is fixedly connected to the tail end of the push rod 31. The
central shaft 34 is fixedly connected to the fixing base 14, and
the central shaft 34 defines the axial center of the plurality of
matching protrusions 141 that are annularly arranged. The push rod
31 is slidably connected to the central shaft 34. The movable block
32 is rotatably and slidably connected to the central shaft 34. For
example, the elastic body 33 is a spring, and the elastic body 33
surrounds the central shaft 34 and abuts between the fixing base 14
and the movable block 32 to drive the driving mechanism 30 to be
reset.
[0099] The driving mechanism 30, the driven plate 20' (also
referred to as the water dividing plate 20'), etc. define a
switching mechanism configured to control the water inlet passage
12 to be closed and to be open.
[0100] The switching mechanism is switched by pressing the first
button 35' and is reset by releasing the first button 35' so as to
complete a switching cycle. In some embodiments, the switching
cycle of the switching mechanism comprises a switching process
configured to drive the driven plate 20' to rotate by pressing the
first button 35' (the driven plate 20' rotates at a predetermined
angle to control the waterway to be closed and to be open) and a
reset process configured to be reset by a force of the elastic body
33 after releasing the first button 35' (the driving mechanism 30
is reset). The switching process comprises a first process and a
second process.
[0101] In the first process, the driven plate 20' only rotates in
the first direction, and the push rod 31 and the movable block 32
move but do not rotate. When the first button 35' is pressed to
drive the push rod 31 to move upward, since the lower guiding
surface 321 of the movable block 32 contacts and abuts the first
upper guiding surface 311 of the push rod 31, the movable block 32
also moves upward. The third upper guiding surface 322 of the
movable block 32 contacts and abuts the first inner guiding surface
22 of the driven plate 20'. Since the driven plate 20' only rotates
and the movable block 32 moves upward, the third upper guiding
surface 322 of the movable block 32 drives the driven plate 20' to
rotate in the first direction (counterclockwise) until the lower
guiding surface 321 of the movable block 32 moves away from the
second inner guiding surfaces 154 of the water dividing body 15. At
this time, the fourth upper guiding surface 323 of the movable
block 32 abuts the fixing guiding surface 142. In the first
process, the push rod 31 is free to move but not rotate, the
movable block 32 is also free to move but not rotate, and the
driven plate 20' is free to rotate. The rotation limiting member
316 and the arc-shaped opening 327 cooperate to prevent the movable
block 32 from rotating in the second direction (clockwise).
[0102] In the second process, the driven plate 20' and the movable
block 32 rotate together in the first direction. The driven plate
20' rotates at the predetermined angle by cooperation of the first
process and the second process to control the waterway to be closed
and to be open. The movable block 32 is free to move and rotate in
the second process. By continuously pushing the push rod 31, the
fourth upper guiding surface 323 of the movable block 32 contacts
and couples to the fixing guiding surface 142. Since the fixing
guiding surface 142 does not move, the movable block 32 can rotate.
At this time, an upward movement of the push rod 31 drives the
movable block 32 to rotate in the first direction, and the movable
block 32 and the driven plate 20' rotate together in the first
direction. When the driven plate 20' rotates at the predetermined
angle, the lower guiding surface 321 of the movable block 32
separates from the second inner guiding surfaces 154 of the valve
body 19. In order to ensure accuracy of a rotation position of the
driven plate 20', when the plurality of second outer convex
portions 325 of the movable block 32 abut the limiting portions
143, a rotation of the driven plate 20' is complete. At this time,
a switching of the waterway is complete.
[0103] In the reset process, after releasing the hand from the
first button 35', causing the first button 35' to be released, the
lower guiding surface 321 of the movable block 32 separates from
the second inner guiding surfaces 154. At this time, the lower
guiding surface 321 cooperates with the second inner guiding
surfaces 154. The movable block 32 moves downward under the force
of the elastic body 33, and the lower guiding surface 321 moves
downward to pass through the second upper guiding surface 312 to a
next position and to drive the push rod 31 and the first button 35'
to be reset simultaneously. Thus, the switching cycle is complete.
A rotation angle and a rotation direction of the movable block 32
are consistent with a rotation angle and a rotation direction of
the driven plate 20' to ensure the switching position is fixed.
[0104] In this embodiment, the first upper guiding surface 311 of
the push rod 31 contacts and couples to the lower guiding surface
321 of the movable block 32 to enable the push rod 31 to push the
movable block 32 to move. The third upper guiding surface 322 of
the movable block 32 contacts and couples to the first inner
guiding surface 22 of the driven plate 20' to enable the movable
block 32 to push the driven plate 20' to move along the first
direction. The movable block 32 couples to the fixing guiding
surface 142 of the fixing base 14 to enable the push rod 31 to
drive the movable block 32 and the driven plate 20' to move along
the first direction together. The driven plate 20' is configured to
control the water inlet passage 12 to be closed and to be open.
When the driven plate 20' is rotated to a preset position when the
first button 35' is pressed, the driven plate 20' only needs to
resist the elastic reset force. The elastic reset force is small,
and therefore a pressing force is small.
[0105] In this embodiment, the driven plate 20' only rotates (the
driven plate 20' does not move), and the mounting portion 10 and
the driven plate 20' can be made from general materials. A filling
process is not required, a cost can be reduced, an occupied space
can be reduced, and the structure is compact.
[0106] The head 16 of the mounting portion 10 comprises the water
dividing chamber 11 and the plurality of water dividing passages
13. The water dividing plate 20 is rotatably disposed in the water
dividing chamber 11 of the mounting portion 10, and the water
dividing plate 20 rotates to at least control the plurality of
water dividing passages 13 to be connected to the water dividing
chamber 11. The water dividing plate 20 comprises a water dividing
shaft 217 extending out from the water dividing chamber 11. The
handheld portion A1 is slidably connected to a second button 51.
The ratchet wheel-ratchet intermittent movement mechanism 50 is
operatively connected to the water dividing shaft 217 disposed
between the second button 51 and the water dividing plate 20 to
control the water dividing plate 20 to rotate at the predetermined
angle to achieve the switching of the waterways by pressing the
second button 51. The ratchet wheel-ratchet intermittent movement
mechanism 50 comprises a swing member 52 disposed on the mounting
portion 10, a slide member 53 slidably connected to the mounting
portion 10, a ratchet 54, a ratchet wheel 55, and a stop claw. The
ratchet wheel 55 and the water dividing shaft 217 of the water
dividing plate 20 are coaxial, and the ratchet wheel 55 is disposed
on an end portion of the water dividing shaft 217 extending out
from the water dividing chamber 11. A first end of the ratchet 54
is rotatably connected to the mounting portion 10, a middle potion
of the ratchet 54 is connected to the slide member 53, and a second
end of the ratchet 54 abuts the ratchet wheel 55. The slide member
53 slides to drive the ratchet 54 to swing, so that the ratchet 54
drives the ratchet wheel 55 to rotate. A first end of the stop claw
is rotatably connected to the mounting portion 10, and a second end
of the stop claw abuts the ratchet wheel 55 to prevent the ratchet
wheel 55 from rotating in reverse. In this embodiment, the slide
member 53 comprises a through groove 531 extending inward, and the
middle portion of the ratchet 54 is disposed in the through groove.
The swing member 52 is a fan-shaped structure, and a central
portion of the fan-shaped structure rotatably connects to the
mounting portion 10. A first end of the second button 51 abuts a
first end of the fan-shaped structure, and a second end of the
fan-shaped structure abuts an end of the slide member 53. A reset
spring 56 is disposed between the slide member 53 and the mounting
portion 10.
[0107] The first button 35' and the second button 51 are arranged
on the handheld portion A1 to facilitate the user controlling
on-off switching and waterway switching. The first button 35' and
the second button 51 define a switching mechanism having two
buttons. When pressing a front button (the second button 51), the
switching of the waterways is achieved. When pressing a rear button
(the first button 35'), the switching of the on-off of the waterway
is achieved. The two buttons are separately operated and do not
affect each other.
[0108] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variation can be made in the present disclosure
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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